impacted tooth

An impacted tooth increases a patient’s risk for common oral health conditions and can negatively affect oral function. The most typical tooth to become impacted is a wisdom tooth. Since these teeth are unnecessary to oral function, they are often removed by an oral surgeon. A...

Permanent teeth become impacted when they are unable to emerge properly in the smile. Many impacted teeth are surrounded by the jawbone. Alternatively, a soft tissue impacted tooth is covered only by the gum tissue and unable to emerge. A patient’s third molars, or wisdom teeth,...

An impacted tooth is no laughing matter. Impacted teeth can inflict damage to neighboring teeth, lead to infection, or damage the jaw bone. Most often, impacted teeth are not likely to move into the proper positions, leading to a recommendation for extraction. If you suspect...